I do not wish to condone piracy or the associated mental and physical perversions associated with the pirate lifestyle—but Star Wars III is apparently available on the Internet.
What does this mean?
It means that .000234% of George Lucas’ total revenue will be drained and millions of pasty kids who don’t want to stand in line on Friday will watch the movie tonight and then go pay to see it fifteen times in the next six months. It also means that DRM is all sound and fury, signifying nothing. This outrage cannot stand.
Props to the guys who got copies of it out, complete with art on the DVD itself and cases, in less than 6 hours to the streets of NYC.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Thursday, May 19, 2005
So as if the console wars weren't exciting enough already Sony has announced that a launch title for the PS3 is the next Grand Theft Auto. Damn Sony. Xbox 'bout to get served!
"You take a look at a the roofs of those buildings, they're all at different angles, different shapes," he said. "It is the worst pile of crap architecture I have ever seen in my life."
For once I agree with Donald Trump.
Personally I'd love to see the Twin Towers rebuilt. Improved security, design, etc. They were a fixture of New York City, and they're sorely missed. There are those who remember seeing those great towers, and knew exactly where they stood. I cannot look at the NYC skyline without rememebering exactly where and how they looked. They were a testament of architectural wonderment...and I hope we'll see them again.
"What we need is support to build a bigger and better version of two buildings and more that were taken down by people that were animals," Trump said. "If something happened to the Statue of Liberty, you wouldn't rebuild it as something other than the Statue of Liberty."
Damn right Donald. Damn right.
For once I agree with Donald Trump.
Personally I'd love to see the Twin Towers rebuilt. Improved security, design, etc. They were a fixture of New York City, and they're sorely missed. There are those who remember seeing those great towers, and knew exactly where they stood. I cannot look at the NYC skyline without rememebering exactly where and how they looked. They were a testament of architectural wonderment...and I hope we'll see them again.
"What we need is support to build a bigger and better version of two buildings and more that were taken down by people that were animals," Trump said. "If something happened to the Statue of Liberty, you wouldn't rebuild it as something other than the Statue of Liberty."
Damn right Donald. Damn right.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
So the movie-version of Rent due out this Christmas season should ROCK. I was unaware before today that they've got a TON of the original actors doing it. Most notably:
Mark - Anythony Rapp
Roger - Adam Pascal
Thomas B. "Tom" Collins - Jesse L. Martin
Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III - Taye Diggs
Maureen Johnson - Idina Menzel
Wilson Jermaine Heredia - Angel Schunard
With so many original cast members (Especially the most important 3 or 4) reprising their roles I'm eager to see how it turns out.
Mark - Anythony Rapp
Roger - Adam Pascal
Thomas B. "Tom" Collins - Jesse L. Martin
Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III - Taye Diggs
Maureen Johnson - Idina Menzel
Wilson Jermaine Heredia - Angel Schunard
With so many original cast members (Especially the most important 3 or 4) reprising their roles I'm eager to see how it turns out.
Interview For Jessica/My Baby:
1.) When was the first moment you realized you loved me?
2.) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
3.) What scares you the most?
4.) What are your three favorite things about me?
5.) Why did you choose Finance as your major?
6.) What is your favorite thing to do in spare time?
7.) What's the biggest sacrifice you'd ever make for me?
8.) Is there something you've always wanted to learn how to do but haven't yet? What is it?
1.) When was the first moment you realized you loved me?
2.) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
3.) What scares you the most?
4.) What are your three favorite things about me?
5.) Why did you choose Finance as your major?
6.) What is your favorite thing to do in spare time?
7.) What's the biggest sacrifice you'd ever make for me?
8.) Is there something you've always wanted to learn how to do but haven't yet? What is it?
Britney you're such a whore. If you think that talking about your sex life on tv is going to help your image...you're wrong.
You can take the girl out of the trailer park but you can't take the trailer park out of the gir. 'Nuff said.
You can take the girl out of the trailer park but you can't take the trailer park out of the gir. 'Nuff said.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
01. Comment with your name and I will write something I like about you.
02. I will then tell what song/movie/icon reminds me of you.
03. If I were to apply an o'clock to you, it would be...
04. I will try to name a single word that best describes you.
05. I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
06. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
07. I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you
You can initially answer these too in your comment!
YAY for comments that work!
02. I will then tell what song/movie/icon reminds me of you.
03. If I were to apply an o'clock to you, it would be...
04. I will try to name a single word that best describes you.
05. I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
06. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
07. I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you
You can initially answer these too in your comment!
YAY for comments that work!
Monday, May 16, 2005
1.) When you wake up in the morning, what's the first thing you think about?
2.) When you grow old and gray, where do you want to live?
3.) What other country would you like to vist? why?
4.) How many kids would you like to have? #boys/#girls?
5.) What's your all time favorite movie? (you can only pick one!)
1.) Jessica
2.) I'm thinking a southern state but one with 4 seasons. Not Florida. By the time I'm swerving all over the road I don't want to piss any young'uns off.
3.) Italy. It's my heritage...
4.) 1 of each.
5. Joe vs. the Volcano
2.) When you grow old and gray, where do you want to live?
3.) What other country would you like to vist? why?
4.) How many kids would you like to have? #boys/#girls?
5.) What's your all time favorite movie? (you can only pick one!)
1.) Jessica
2.) I'm thinking a southern state but one with 4 seasons. Not Florida. By the time I'm swerving all over the road I don't want to piss any young'uns off.
3.) Italy. It's my heritage...
4.) 1 of each.
5. Joe vs. the Volcano
Here's a little fun blog thingy going around
"The Interview"
Rules
1. Leave me a comment on THIS post saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions!
3. You will update your Blog or comment back again with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
It's fun :)
"The Interview"
Rules
1. Leave me a comment on THIS post saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions!
3. You will update your Blog or comment back again with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
It's fun :)
SO this is why Jess and I received free Frosties Friday evening when we stopped at Wendy's for dinner before heading down to AC.
Free Frosty Giveaway
Free Frosty Giveaway
Interesting facts:
10 per cent of Wellington’s 163,000 population worked in some capacity on Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
Judy Garland could reportedly memorise a song or a page of script by looking at it once.
It appears love really does make you go weak at the knees. A study in the Harvard Health Letter says that when men are in love, their testosterone levels drop, which in turn decreases their strength.
The five foot sword wielded by Scotland’s William Wallace (immortalized in the Mel Gibson movie, Braveheart) left the country for the first time in 700 years last month. The priceless artifact will be the centerpiece of an exhibition in New York.
The first case of texting tendonitis has occurred. A 13 year old Australian girl was diagnosed with the modern ailment as a result of overusing her right thumb to text.
Your heart beats 100,000 times a day.
Oprah Winfrey had her ears pierced for the first time at the age of 51.
Lindsay Lohan’s car number plate licence is ILLEGALL.
A survey by the American Society for Aesethetic Plastic Surgeons reveals that a third of 1,350 women who had breast implants were on their second operation because they did not like the shape of their first implants.
Despite the common belief, eating late will not make you fat, according to the British Dietic Association. They maintain a calorie is a calorie no matter when you eat it.
An estimated one thousand of Google’s 2,600 employees are millionaires. The six-year-old company is valued at more than some developing world countries and the two Google founders are billionaires.
Men are attracted to large women when hungry but prefer slimmer women when they’re full, according to a report in the US Journal of Psychological Science.
A 14 month old baby can understand more than 60 sign language actions and before the age of two, hundreds according to Rachel de Azevedo Coleman, a leading sign language expert
UFO cultists the Raelians, who believe that life on earth was created by scientists from another planet, have named Eminem as an honorary priest. Previous recipients include Bill Gates and Linda Ronstadt.
Star Wars’ sound technician Ben Burtt created Chewbacca’s voice by combining recordings of bears, walruses, camels and badgers
American children will watch around 8,000 murders on television before they have finished elementary school.
Watching romantic movies really does put you in the mood for love. A study by the university of Michigan found that watching chick flicks raises the female hormone progesterone in both men and women.
Since 1992, the world wide grosses for films starring Tom Hanks total something in the region of 4.4 billion dollars.
Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, is a third cousin four times removed to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
According to a report in the Evening Standard, chambermaids at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami were shocked to discover on his departure, that guest Michael Jackson had signed all the pieces of artwork in the room with his own signature.
Quentin Tarantino was paid one dollar to film a single scene in Robert Rodriguez’s latest film Sin City. This matches the one dollar Tarantino paid Rodriguez to compose the whole of Kill Bill 2’s score
Women with longer legs have a lower risk of heart disease, a Bristol University study claims.
For every extra 4.3cm (1.5in) in leg length, it seems, a woman’s risk appears to decrease by 16 per cent.
In the second world war, every Italian soldier in North Africa carried his own personal espresso machine.
DVD means Digital Versatile Disc but just what does VHS mean?
It stands for Very High Speed
All of John Hughes’s films are set in the fictional town of Shermer, Illinois.
For example, Ferris Bueller went to the same school – Shermer High School - as the five teenagers serving detention in The Breakfast Club
If you make a salary of $45,920.0, you are richer than 97% of the world.
phagophobia (fear of being eaten alive), indoor botanophobia (fear of houseplants) and perhaps most bizarrely pool-selachophobia (fear of a shark appearing through a hatch in the side of a swimming pool).
Johnny Depp not only suffers from arachnophobia (fear of spiders), phasmophobia (fear of ghosts) and acrophobia (fear of heights) but is also a coulrophobic (fear of clowns). “Clowns really scare me.” the beautiful man has admitted, “The painted face and the false smile. I’ve always connected it to dark forces beneath the surface”.
French Fries originate from Switzerland
Most toilets flush in E flat.
Dogs and humans are the only animals with prostates
Time magazine's 'Man of the Year' for 1938 was Adolph Hitler.
A golfer is allowed to search for his ball for 5 minutes before it is officially recorded as lost.
A young rat is called a kitten.
The collective term for a group of crocodiles is a float.
The acronym I.O.U. stands for 'Is Owed Unto'.
Sigourney Weaver's dad, Pat, is said to be one of only two people who know the exact recipe for Coca Cola.
10 per cent of Wellington’s 163,000 population worked in some capacity on Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
Judy Garland could reportedly memorise a song or a page of script by looking at it once.
It appears love really does make you go weak at the knees. A study in the Harvard Health Letter says that when men are in love, their testosterone levels drop, which in turn decreases their strength.
The five foot sword wielded by Scotland’s William Wallace (immortalized in the Mel Gibson movie, Braveheart) left the country for the first time in 700 years last month. The priceless artifact will be the centerpiece of an exhibition in New York.
The first case of texting tendonitis has occurred. A 13 year old Australian girl was diagnosed with the modern ailment as a result of overusing her right thumb to text.
Your heart beats 100,000 times a day.
Oprah Winfrey had her ears pierced for the first time at the age of 51.
Lindsay Lohan’s car number plate licence is ILLEGALL.
A survey by the American Society for Aesethetic Plastic Surgeons reveals that a third of 1,350 women who had breast implants were on their second operation because they did not like the shape of their first implants.
Despite the common belief, eating late will not make you fat, according to the British Dietic Association. They maintain a calorie is a calorie no matter when you eat it.
An estimated one thousand of Google’s 2,600 employees are millionaires. The six-year-old company is valued at more than some developing world countries and the two Google founders are billionaires.
Men are attracted to large women when hungry but prefer slimmer women when they’re full, according to a report in the US Journal of Psychological Science.
A 14 month old baby can understand more than 60 sign language actions and before the age of two, hundreds according to Rachel de Azevedo Coleman, a leading sign language expert
UFO cultists the Raelians, who believe that life on earth was created by scientists from another planet, have named Eminem as an honorary priest. Previous recipients include Bill Gates and Linda Ronstadt.
Star Wars’ sound technician Ben Burtt created Chewbacca’s voice by combining recordings of bears, walruses, camels and badgers
American children will watch around 8,000 murders on television before they have finished elementary school.
Watching romantic movies really does put you in the mood for love. A study by the university of Michigan found that watching chick flicks raises the female hormone progesterone in both men and women.
Since 1992, the world wide grosses for films starring Tom Hanks total something in the region of 4.4 billion dollars.
Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, is a third cousin four times removed to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
According to a report in the Evening Standard, chambermaids at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami were shocked to discover on his departure, that guest Michael Jackson had signed all the pieces of artwork in the room with his own signature.
Quentin Tarantino was paid one dollar to film a single scene in Robert Rodriguez’s latest film Sin City. This matches the one dollar Tarantino paid Rodriguez to compose the whole of Kill Bill 2’s score
Women with longer legs have a lower risk of heart disease, a Bristol University study claims.
For every extra 4.3cm (1.5in) in leg length, it seems, a woman’s risk appears to decrease by 16 per cent.
In the second world war, every Italian soldier in North Africa carried his own personal espresso machine.
DVD means Digital Versatile Disc but just what does VHS mean?
It stands for Very High Speed
All of John Hughes’s films are set in the fictional town of Shermer, Illinois.
For example, Ferris Bueller went to the same school – Shermer High School - as the five teenagers serving detention in The Breakfast Club
If you make a salary of $45,920.0, you are richer than 97% of the world.
phagophobia (fear of being eaten alive), indoor botanophobia (fear of houseplants) and perhaps most bizarrely pool-selachophobia (fear of a shark appearing through a hatch in the side of a swimming pool).
Johnny Depp not only suffers from arachnophobia (fear of spiders), phasmophobia (fear of ghosts) and acrophobia (fear of heights) but is also a coulrophobic (fear of clowns). “Clowns really scare me.” the beautiful man has admitted, “The painted face and the false smile. I’ve always connected it to dark forces beneath the surface”.
French Fries originate from Switzerland
Most toilets flush in E flat.
Dogs and humans are the only animals with prostates
Time magazine's 'Man of the Year' for 1938 was Adolph Hitler.
A golfer is allowed to search for his ball for 5 minutes before it is officially recorded as lost.
A young rat is called a kitten.
The collective term for a group of crocodiles is a float.
The acronym I.O.U. stands for 'Is Owed Unto'.
Sigourney Weaver's dad, Pat, is said to be one of only two people who know the exact recipe for Coca Cola.
Email from Clancy Brown, aka Brother Justin.
Dear Beth:
(I'd post this but I don't want my E-mail address out there so please
pass any portion of this note along to the fans on the Yahoo group
whenever you see fit)
You've hit the nail on the head yet again! There is absolutely nothing
to read into the recent press releases about Dan and Tracy developing a
show for Showtime except that SOMEONE (read: Showtime or some cranky
entertainment beat writer) wanted to try to knock some of the luster off
of HBO's golden tower.
There are many reasons not to worry but the first and foremost is -
HOWARD KLEIN!
Howard executive produces at least three shows for different networks
that I know of and is currently paired with CARNIVALE writer William
Schmidt to develop a fourth for none other than HBO! Now I'll grant you
Howard is not the "Creator" of CARNIVALE or any of the other shows he
Exec Produces nor does he write or direct but he is deeply involved in
all of them AND finds
time to operate a top talent management company named 3 Arts (perhaps
you've seen the logo in the end credits of OUR show). Certainly a mind as
creative and facile as Dan's could manage to run an established show like
CARNIVALE as well as develop a few more ideas.
The second reason (almost as obvious as the first) is - HOWARD KLEIN
AGAIN!
Tracy Torme is one of Howard's clients (and an old friend). Howard, and
by logical extension HBO, surely knew of Dan and Tracy shopping their
ideas around (although I'll bet HBO was surprised they landed at
Showtime!). Howard is the guy with the intimate relationships and
communication with HBO. To think this was somehow unexpected is absurd.
If HBO wanted to wrap either Dan or Tracy up exclusively, they could
have; but that's not the way it happens in TV. It's WAY too expensive to
pay someone NOT to play in another sandbox. Plus DK is very sought after
these days. By the time HBO makes up their mind about a third season, I
would expect DK to have at least three more development deals in place
all over town!
The question then becomes will we have a third season and; if so, will
HBO seek to sign Dan up again? My feeling is, "Yes and Yes!"
To the first part of the question - CARNIVALE is not finished. We know
that the final event in our story doesn't occur for another 10 or 11
years and we don't flash forward that far during the finale of season 2.
HBO wouldn't allow the story to end abruptly, it's not their style and
not their reputation. Caroline Strauss and Miranda Heller are smart
cookies who have made their names by taking chances on stories and
subjects and styles that have re-defined series television. And Chris
Albrecht, as the main architect of ALL of it, is not suddenly going to
start behaving like the middle managers that run some of the competition.
HIS vision of HBO as a place where creators are afforded the freedom to
pursue THEIR vision is what keeps HBO on top. Because of that, HBO enjoys
the preeminent place in Hollywood's creative community. It is the FIRST
place people approach with their BEST ideas.
To the second part of the question - read the last half of the above
paragraph. Dan loves CARNIVALE and HBO first. He is not discontent nor is
he a malcontent. I've asked him directly if he would sign on again. He
would in a heart-beat. But these are delicate issues in the beginning;
fraught with ego, strategy, and, ... well... ego. Who says what when
takes up a lot of brain-time in high places. Protocols real and imaginary
are expected to be ignored or honored depending on the phase of the moon
and violations are both admired and despised. Blah blah blah blah....
The truth is it is DK's story. He's the "creator" that is so esteemed by
the HBO model. There is no reason not to expect he will be back. Howard
can do a lot of useful things, but even Howard knows he's not a
story-teller. Howard knows that without Dan, this story will fall flat.
There are too many
disparate strands that support the grand design. There is too much
specialized detail that focus the audience in unexpected and compelling
ways. The characters, time, and setting are too specific to be entrusted
to a second-team back-up. I know it, the writers know it, Howard knows
it, Dan knows it, and HBO knows it. If there is any reason not to allow
Dan to finish telling his tale, I am unaware of it. I must conclude he
will not be allowed to be "the one that got away." (Especially to
Showtime)
I completely understand and empathize with some of the panic posters.
I've suffered through baffling decisions by suits. I don't trust 'em
either. Their nervousness about the future of CARNIVALE is informed and
grounded by experience. All I ask is that you give HBO the benefit of the
doubt. Let
your skepticism be informed and eased by Albrecht's track record. Since
he took the reigns at HBO, the rules have changed. Why would CARNIVALE
suddenly inspire the iconoclasts at HBO to behave like sheep. No, they
are a different breed. And they are tenacious. They don't flail and whine
and look for escape hatches. They look you in the eye and green light
shows like
DEADWOOD, BIG LOVE, UNSCRIPTED, K STREET, SOPRANOS, SIX FEET UNDER, and
on and on.... These folks are horses of a different color. NOT birds of a
feather.
Now to the one sad truth, and the only part of your post that is less
than 100% true. Ben and Justin (Nick and I) are not essential going
forward. Never were. Actors (and sadly the characters they play) hardly
ever are. There are exceptions: Tony Soprano, Carrie Bradshaw, SpongeBob
Squarepants, etc. But ours is an ensemble that serves the story and story
is the star. Ben & Justin could continue but they just as well could not.
There are plenty of characters to carry on the continuity of theme and
narrative (most obviously - Samson). I wish this weren't true, but I have
to be honest...I would still be enthralled with this show even if I
weren't on it - perhaps moreso. Sorry but that's the reality.
Now having said that, there is only one person I would trust to make such
a transition correctly - Dan Knauf. Any other way would smell too much
like a "purge". So the only real indispensable "star" of this show is the
"creator" - Mr. Daniel Knauf. As Milch is to DEADWOOD and Ball is to SIX
FEET UNDER so too is Knauf to CARNIVALE.
So do not despair, fellow Carnys and Knauf-tic faithful. Let the
priesthood at HBO do what they will in their own time. They are wise and
bold and committed. They will make the right choice. It is self-evident.
I am sure that we will continue to tell the story and "...show you
things. Wonderful,
terrible things...." (those 5 emmys right out of the gate didn't hurt
either. SOPRANOS didn't win that many their first season!)
Courage!
Regards - Clancy
Dear Beth:
(I'd post this but I don't want my E-mail address out there so please
pass any portion of this note along to the fans on the Yahoo group
whenever you see fit)
You've hit the nail on the head yet again! There is absolutely nothing
to read into the recent press releases about Dan and Tracy developing a
show for Showtime except that SOMEONE (read: Showtime or some cranky
entertainment beat writer) wanted to try to knock some of the luster off
of HBO's golden tower.
There are many reasons not to worry but the first and foremost is -
HOWARD KLEIN!
Howard executive produces at least three shows for different networks
that I know of and is currently paired with CARNIVALE writer William
Schmidt to develop a fourth for none other than HBO! Now I'll grant you
Howard is not the "Creator" of CARNIVALE or any of the other shows he
Exec Produces nor does he write or direct but he is deeply involved in
all of them AND finds
time to operate a top talent management company named 3 Arts (perhaps
you've seen the logo in the end credits of OUR show). Certainly a mind as
creative and facile as Dan's could manage to run an established show like
CARNIVALE as well as develop a few more ideas.
The second reason (almost as obvious as the first) is - HOWARD KLEIN
AGAIN!
Tracy Torme is one of Howard's clients (and an old friend). Howard, and
by logical extension HBO, surely knew of Dan and Tracy shopping their
ideas around (although I'll bet HBO was surprised they landed at
Showtime!). Howard is the guy with the intimate relationships and
communication with HBO. To think this was somehow unexpected is absurd.
If HBO wanted to wrap either Dan or Tracy up exclusively, they could
have; but that's not the way it happens in TV. It's WAY too expensive to
pay someone NOT to play in another sandbox. Plus DK is very sought after
these days. By the time HBO makes up their mind about a third season, I
would expect DK to have at least three more development deals in place
all over town!
The question then becomes will we have a third season and; if so, will
HBO seek to sign Dan up again? My feeling is, "Yes and Yes!"
To the first part of the question - CARNIVALE is not finished. We know
that the final event in our story doesn't occur for another 10 or 11
years and we don't flash forward that far during the finale of season 2.
HBO wouldn't allow the story to end abruptly, it's not their style and
not their reputation. Caroline Strauss and Miranda Heller are smart
cookies who have made their names by taking chances on stories and
subjects and styles that have re-defined series television. And Chris
Albrecht, as the main architect of ALL of it, is not suddenly going to
start behaving like the middle managers that run some of the competition.
HIS vision of HBO as a place where creators are afforded the freedom to
pursue THEIR vision is what keeps HBO on top. Because of that, HBO enjoys
the preeminent place in Hollywood's creative community. It is the FIRST
place people approach with their BEST ideas.
To the second part of the question - read the last half of the above
paragraph. Dan loves CARNIVALE and HBO first. He is not discontent nor is
he a malcontent. I've asked him directly if he would sign on again. He
would in a heart-beat. But these are delicate issues in the beginning;
fraught with ego, strategy, and, ... well... ego. Who says what when
takes up a lot of brain-time in high places. Protocols real and imaginary
are expected to be ignored or honored depending on the phase of the moon
and violations are both admired and despised. Blah blah blah blah....
The truth is it is DK's story. He's the "creator" that is so esteemed by
the HBO model. There is no reason not to expect he will be back. Howard
can do a lot of useful things, but even Howard knows he's not a
story-teller. Howard knows that without Dan, this story will fall flat.
There are too many
disparate strands that support the grand design. There is too much
specialized detail that focus the audience in unexpected and compelling
ways. The characters, time, and setting are too specific to be entrusted
to a second-team back-up. I know it, the writers know it, Howard knows
it, Dan knows it, and HBO knows it. If there is any reason not to allow
Dan to finish telling his tale, I am unaware of it. I must conclude he
will not be allowed to be "the one that got away." (Especially to
Showtime)
I completely understand and empathize with some of the panic posters.
I've suffered through baffling decisions by suits. I don't trust 'em
either. Their nervousness about the future of CARNIVALE is informed and
grounded by experience. All I ask is that you give HBO the benefit of the
doubt. Let
your skepticism be informed and eased by Albrecht's track record. Since
he took the reigns at HBO, the rules have changed. Why would CARNIVALE
suddenly inspire the iconoclasts at HBO to behave like sheep. No, they
are a different breed. And they are tenacious. They don't flail and whine
and look for escape hatches. They look you in the eye and green light
shows like
DEADWOOD, BIG LOVE, UNSCRIPTED, K STREET, SOPRANOS, SIX FEET UNDER, and
on and on.... These folks are horses of a different color. NOT birds of a
feather.
Now to the one sad truth, and the only part of your post that is less
than 100% true. Ben and Justin (Nick and I) are not essential going
forward. Never were. Actors (and sadly the characters they play) hardly
ever are. There are exceptions: Tony Soprano, Carrie Bradshaw, SpongeBob
Squarepants, etc. But ours is an ensemble that serves the story and story
is the star. Ben & Justin could continue but they just as well could not.
There are plenty of characters to carry on the continuity of theme and
narrative (most obviously - Samson). I wish this weren't true, but I have
to be honest...I would still be enthralled with this show even if I
weren't on it - perhaps moreso. Sorry but that's the reality.
Now having said that, there is only one person I would trust to make such
a transition correctly - Dan Knauf. Any other way would smell too much
like a "purge". So the only real indispensable "star" of this show is the
"creator" - Mr. Daniel Knauf. As Milch is to DEADWOOD and Ball is to SIX
FEET UNDER so too is Knauf to CARNIVALE.
So do not despair, fellow Carnys and Knauf-tic faithful. Let the
priesthood at HBO do what they will in their own time. They are wise and
bold and committed. They will make the right choice. It is self-evident.
I am sure that we will continue to tell the story and "...show you
things. Wonderful,
terrible things...." (those 5 emmys right out of the gate didn't hurt
either. SOPRANOS didn't win that many their first season!)
Courage!
Regards - Clancy
